Learn How To Use Your Digital Camera

Boston

Boston

Welcome to the DPA workshops in Boston. Classes take place at the Griffin Museum of Photography, founded by one of the country’s first photojournalists, Arthur Griffin (1903-2001). The Griffin’s exhibitions have included such masters as Edward Weston, Sebastiao Salgado and Edward Curtis. What better place in the Boston area to lend teaching space for the Digital Photo Academy? The students under DPA instructors Steve Dunwell, Frank Siteman, Stan Rowin, Sylvia Stagg-Giuliano and Kathy Tarantola not only get a master class in photography, but in a place where they are surrounded by some of the most inspiring photographs ever taken.

Comments to “Boston”

“I had a great experience and enjoyed Steve’s great enthusiasm for photography.
I have attached some photos from that day. I learned more in one day with Steve than countless years of point and shoot….
Thank you!”

“The course was great and although I am a novice and have a very simple, small, automatic Nikon Coolpix camera, I got some photos that I was happy with (see attached) I hope to take more classes in the future.”

Thanks very much for a great workshop. The museum was a fascinating place and I enjoyed practicing some shots, especially getting some of those more abstract shots.
Sylvia – thanks for your advice, and special thanks for looking through my photos and critiquing them so thoughtfully. It was so very helpful.
Richard you asked for a few shots.”

Attached are a few of my photos from the Boston Waterfront workshop with Frank. It was a lot of fun and really informative learning from and working with him. He reinforced information I already knew and I came away with new ideas for techniques and composition. He is a great instructor with patience of a saint.

“Hi Frank,
Thanks for the workshop last night. It was fun. I don’t know how to upload my photos to the DPA website.
You are welcome to share mine with whoever.
Thanks again. I look forward to future instructions from you.
Best. Cheers.”

Thank you for the great workshop and opportunity to learn from a master. It was fun to meet you and other participants and learn something new. It gave me a much needed boost to go out and take pictures, some inspiration that I started losing. It was even more fun to share our deeply personal memories of Brezhnev 🙂 And wow! – it’s been a very long time since I heard word “putsch” used for coup. ”

Good to meet you last night. I had a wonderful time learning, taking pictures and meeting the other class participants. Here are my pictures from the evening shoot. Could you please send me the email addresses of our friends from Europe so I can forward the link to them?

“I apologize for not getting back sooner. I loved the class. Steve, the instructor was very relaxed as he gave some helpful tips. We walked around Beacon Hill and got some great pics. He pointed out some great shots and always had a helpful tip to share. He was also available to ask anything. I thought he was great and would love to take another class with him. ”

“David,
Thank you so much for your professional insight regarding my image of Joshua Tree at sunset! I found it very helpful to hear the subtle differences that make a good image a much better one. The information that you provided is the detailed part of producing a better, post processed image, which I, personally, find illusive.

“We did have a very good time at the workshop we attended. David did a great job during our photo session and was very helpful.
We appreciated the time and effort he put into constructively critiquing our images. The video he recorded and provided showing how to implement his suggestions was very helpful and positively presented and received. ”

“First, Thank you for the photography class this past Saturday, at the church in East Boston. A lot to absorb on MyLio. Was a little overwhelming. But now that I’ve had time on my own to explore the software, and do some comparisons, I think MyLio is going to become part of my work flow.
I’ve been a Photoshop Elements user for years. I edited one of my church photos in PSE and MyLio, and like MyLio version better.”

“I appreciate the time and thoughtful insight you shared regarding my image.
Your recommendations for change definitely improved the overall image. I certainly like
your suggestions regarding camera composition and post processing. It was very nice to meet
you and be a part of Saturday’s workshop. Looking forward to submitting another image to you for review and guidance.
Thank you again for sharing your time and expertise.”

“Thanks Stan! I had a great time and thought it was a good class. I basically had a good understanding of the basics (aperture, shutter, ISO, exposure, etc.) before the class but picked up some good pointers especially on paying attention to little details and patterns that could prove to be interesting photos. I’ve been shooting mostly nature and sunrise/sunset shots so it was great to have a chance to branch out and take some nice architectural shots and the MIT campus was a great location for variety. You got me further inspired to branch out and try new techniques and subjects to shoot so it was well worth it.

“The weather in Boston on Sunday was perfect, good thing shoot was moved to 9am, started getting hot by noon. Steve shared some great tips and took us to several wonderful places in Beacon Hill. I took many pictures so when I edit a few I will send some to you.”

I took your class a couple weekends ago to learn some new things about my camera. I enjoyed the class very much and loved learning about some of your tips and tricks. I plan to take your class again to get some more practice in sometime in the spring once all of this snow has melted and the weather is warmer.
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I look forward to talking with you soon and hopefully will be seeing you come spring time to learn more about photography.

Thank you for such a great class. I already have learned so much and have seen a difference in my camera skills.”

“Thanks for all of your help in ensuring that I got the info for today’s workshop. I am very glad I was able to attend.

Despite the frosty temperature we were able to get some invaluable information and guidance about using our cameras and techniques for composing good shots. I really appreciated and enjoyed Frank’s presentation.The time we spent outside was limited due to the cold but that was quite valuable as well.

Thanks for the alumni discount and I am looking forward to taking more DPA workshops in the near future.

I just wanted to let you know how happy I was with the workshops on Saturday. I came in for the know your camera controls ( I think that was the official name). I have to say that I learned so much in such a short time. I have already put into use what I learned. You were quite informative and I loved your stories (history) and your analogies. I especially liked the cup of water one, if you have a moment to send that to me I would love it. I look forward to joining more of your workshops.

“The workshop in Harvard Sq last Saturday am was excellent. June and I both took away several ideas that you offered which will help us improve our photography. Also compliment you on providing education, fun and moving around to incorporate multiple subjects. Great job! ”

“Thanks so much for your help regarding my enrollment in Boston Intermediate Class with Steve Dunwell. The Class was terrific! Steve was organized, energetic, and gracious. In addition to his obvious talents as a photographer, he’s a terrific teacher. And, the Griffin Museum was a wonderful site in which to attend class. Thanks again for everything. A truly rewarding class!”

“The Camera Club Weekend Workshop was great. Steve did a good job. The Advanced morning session and field trip was a plus. Thanks Amy, and Thank you Richard…. Hoping to see you soon. I’m sending you guys my 5 pics for the national magazines. It’s been my dream to see it in these magazine.”

“Thanks, Steve. I learned a great deal yesterday and had much fun. I think the composition of the group worked well as a class. You did a great job of working with all of us at our levels and on the concerns we had. I think you covered an incredible amount of information and were most generous of your time. Would love to do something like this again with you.”

“Everyone looks so great in this pic! Nice to have your company on the DSLR camera exploration class! Hope we can all continue to share resources and keep in touch about photography as a group.

Steve, thank you for sending these resources along. I am so glad that I signed up for the class, because I definitely came away with a better understanding of aperture, ISO, shutter speed, white balance, histograms, and tips for taking better photos! I ended up flipping through my camera manual when I got home, and I was delighted to find that I could understand so much more of what the terms meant where before it was too technical for me to grasp. I feel reinvigorated and am excited to explore more of the features on my camera, build on the unconditional knowledge I gained, and dive in to taking more photos.”

“I had an excellent experience in an advanced class taught by Steve Dunwell in Boston. We lucked out with the weather, stumbled upon a Veterans’ Day parade and shot evening picture of interesting lit bridges. It was a good combination of field and Photoshop instruction. I’m sure I will be taking courses in the future.”

“I had a wonderful time at the Boston Public Library shoot. It was raining in Boston, so fortunately we had a great indoor venue. I had the smallest camera there (Canon G12), and the instructor Steve Dunwell was very respectful about that (I’ve had instructors in other places who get a little snooty about those things).

I had a real breakthrough…I’d been flying on automatic for the 13 months that I’ve owned the camera, and just needed someone to say get it out of automatic and at least set it on program. I went all the way to manual and, with Steve’s help, was able to actually work the dials and buttons and take some pretty good shots. I’ve attached a few.

Sorry for the late reply. I was on vacation for a couple of days. Thank you for the great class, I was able to use the techniques I learned while in NH. Here are a few of my pictures. Yes, I need figure out how to Photoshop the date off the photos. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize the date setting was turned on.

“Thank you, Santiago, for an excellent class. My daughter and husband found it very enjoyable and informative. They will certainly be signing up for more classes. We especially appreciated the information you provided ahead of the class which helped the students to show up well-prepared.”

“The DPA class was terrific! I was always one that appreciated photography but never brought my camera along. As I near retirement, I really want to pursue photography as a serious endeavor. Kathy was an outstanding instructor who brought out the best in all of us. I would recommend this class to anyone.”

“I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed the workshop on Sunday. It was great to be able to put the lessons into action and then get immediate feedback. The one thing I learned was to always double check my settings…I tend to change settings and then forget to reset them for the next photo.

I am signed up for the upcoming full day Photoshop and Advanced workshops and am looking forward to them both!”

“We had a fantastic time at your class – very helpful and informative. In fact, you’ve inspired us to take time out every day to continue learning about the D90 (and consider a Canon in the future – haha).

We’re looking forward to exploring more photo-taking after getting some details under the fingers.

Thanks for your previous email with class photo and that great church image (love the info on “how” you managed it). It’s neat to read the specs of the photo and know what they mean!”

“Thank you for the class program. Also, thank you for a great workshop. I understand so much more about my camera and about photograph and that there is so much more to learn. I so appreciate your ability to make everyone feel comfortable, and to answer all our questions no matter how small. You were so enthusiastic about photography and were able teach it as well. I look forward to my next class after I practice a bit.”

“Thanks for a great class! I’ve got a lot of “practicing” to do, but looking forward to it! I”m hoping to catch some great shots in Belize the end of this month. If I have any questions, you’ll be hearing from me :)”

“It was so nice to meet you and thanks so much for a great class. Very informative and helpful… now to just get out of that auto mode all together! LOL Thanks so much for any info. The class was great!”

“The intermediate course was everything and more that it was supposed to be! Kathy’s relaxed style and enthusiasm for photography really made the class very enjoyable and informative. I look forward to taking numerous other classes with DPA very soon. Thank you Kathy and also thank you to the DPA team. You guys are great!!!!:

I would definitely be interested for myself and if I can spread the word I think we could definitely get others interested. I know the class would be awesome.

Please stay in touch with me to keep me updated on the class info. The sooner I know, the quicker I can get out there and spread the good news!”

“The beginner’s class in Boston, with Kathy Tarantola, was great. Small size, comfortable setting and relaxed atmosphere. Kathy’s approach was casual, relaxed and informal also, which helped me take in the information in a different way. I felt as if I had absorbed the knowledge rather than just ‘learned’ it. Thanks Kathy!”

“I wanted to let you know i enjoyed the class yesterday with Kathy Tarantola. I learned a lot and know I have a lot more to learn. This was a great first step into the learning process. I am thinking of taking the advanced class offered in August that Frank is teaching, and will be looking for more classes to take and if you teach other places please let me know as I would like participate.”

“I enjoyed our photo composition class at the Copley Library on Saturday. Here is the picture you asked me to send in but I don’t know where to send it so I thought I would send it to you to pass along. This was taken with my Cannon powershot SD 1300IS on manual inside setting with an ISP of 150.”

“It was an honor and a pleasure to spend the day with Frank Siteman for the Digital Photography Seminar in Boston, a rare opportunity and a real treat to learn from a master photographer and an accomplished businessman. I learned a lot from the picture taking tour of Winchester – a very photogenic town, and then most of the day benefiting from Frank’s expert critique and mastery of Adobe Photoshop. It has renewed my resolve to take better pictures and learn the Photoshop as thoroughly as possible. Thank you very much, and thanks for the souvenir – the reflector, I am sure each ding represents a masterpiece.”

“I had a wonderful day with you on Saturday. I truly gained way more value than the price of admission. It is amazing to me to talk with you and others who have been in this business so long and come at it from such artistic depths. I don’t know if I will ever have artistic depth, but I sure do love digital photography, especially macro work and portraiture.

I know that you will continue to be hired for the artistic vision that you bring to this medium. Please also know that you are an excellent instructor and your passion really comes through in your class.

I hope that if I’m ever in the Boston/NH area I can call you and maybe we could do a day of shooting– That would be fun!

“I had a great time Saturday in class. I learned some things that I did not know about, so please keep up good work and I hope to see you in the December class. Thank you for good day Saturday. ps, what do you think of Nik Software Sharpener Pro 2.0?”

“I enjoyed the day with Frank and as a result will start shooting in raw, using aperture priority and getting more knowledgeable with Photoshop. My son can get an education discount so I’m looking into getting Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop CS3.

Here are the pictures I brought down to the workshop. Thanks for an enjoyable day!”

“The scales have fallen from my eyes: I now (finally) understand why I should almost always be shooting in RAW. It changes everything for me. As someone who was not totally in love with my digital camera before the workshop, I am now excited and enthusiastic about shooting again. Also, the tutorial Frank gave us with masks in Photoshop alone would have been worth the price of admission. Frank’s upbeat style, clear explanations and willingness to go over some things multiple times meant that the new material was retained and understood and was immediately usable. Attached find two photos. One is my original which I shot Friday the day before the workshop. You can see my low tech reflector: a linen napkin. The other portrait is the one I was able to create from it on Sunday, based on what I learned on Saturday.”

“I was trying to crop a picture and was able to use the tool to show what I want it to be but don’t know how to finalize the crop. Your help is greatly appreciated and thank you very much for sharing the picture of Jamie. She was very excited to see it. I have remembered quite a bit from class on Saturday and do remember how to zoom in on a specific subject, yippee!!!! Thanks again for all your help and I look forward to taking some more classes with you to fine tune my skills. I still have lots more to learn.”

“Your studio class was nothing short of wonderful – I learned a ton and had tons of fun. I have a pyramid of nuggets!! I decided a couple of weeks ago to give raw a try, but didn’t know how to use the converter. Now I do. Below are some photos of Mittens – she and her owners had a great time as we all did!

“Thanks so much for the class on Saturday. We learned quite a bit about portraits and about photography in general.

It is really enjoyable to learn from someone who is very knowledgeable and passionate about what they do.

Please thank your wife again for the treats she made for all of us, they were great! Looking forward to another class soon Frank, and thanks also for the info regarding the purchase of a new camera. I’m glad i waited to talk to you first. Loved meeting Beans also, hope she’s doing well.

“I am writing you for two reasons. First, thank you so very much for yesterday. For the longest time I have been fearful to enter the digital world because I was so comfortable with film. When my camera got stolen, I never had the desire to continue because that camera was almost a part of me. When I was very young, I saved S&H green stamps to buy a camera and for my birthday my parents gave me a Bell & Howell Electric Eye camera. That camera got destroyed. I then moved on to the 35mm and did not have too much of a problem with it and when that got stolen, I lost my interest in photography. My boss, Dr. Torres (Wilson) brought his camera to school one day and I got that yearning to be behind the camera but was not sure if I could enter the digital world and be comfortable.

He was the one that suggested going to the class and by doing so I am now not so fearful. You did an excellent job, have a wonderful sense of humor, and are an honest man. It is because of you I feel bonded with my new digital camera.

The other reason I am writing is because I have looked everywhere for that photograph of the wheelchair in the snow. I know Dr. Torres was impressed with it so I would like to purchase one for him, for his office.

I would also like to put it in my classroom to illustrate that as humans we can do just about anything we put our mind to. That photograph leaves one wondering …………..where did the person go. So many of our students come from teribble backgrounds and get no support from their parents. Your photograph is one that would make them question.

“It was so nice to meet you and thanks so much for a great class. Very informative and helpful… now to just get out of that auto mode all together! LOL Thanks so much for any info. The class was great!”

“Thanks for a great class! I’ve got a lot of “practicing” to do, but looking forward to it! I”m hoping to catch some great shots in Belize the end of this month. If I have any questions, you’ll be hearing from me :)”

“I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed the workshop on Sunday. It was great to be able to put the lessons into action and then get immediate feedback. The one thing I learned was to always double check my settings…I tend to change settings and then forget to reset them for the next photo.

I am signed up for the upcoming full day Photoshop and Advanced workshops and am looking forward to them both!”

“Thank you for the class program. Also, thank you for a great workshop. I understand so much more about my camera and about photograph and that there is
so much more to learn. I so appreciate your ability to make everyone feel comfortable, and to answer all our questions no matter how small. You were so
enthusiastic about photography and were able teach it as well. I look forward to my next class after I practice a bit.”

“We had a fantastic time at your class – very helpful and informative. In fact, you’ve inspired us to take time out every day to continue learning about the D90 (and consider a Canon in the future – haha).

We’re looking forward to exploring more photo-taking after getting some details under the fingers.

Thanks for your previous email with class photo and that great church image (love the info on “how” you managed it). It’s neat to read the specs of the photo and know what they mean!”

“Thanks to you Frank, for a very interesting and informative class. I’ve already put some of your Photoshop skills to work and I must say, the techniques make a world of difference including the sizing shortcut to increase or decrease the size of the brush tool. That alone was worth the price of admission LOL.

I have to admit there are some things I could do better and hope you will be kind enough to entertain questions here and there once I know what to ask.

Again, thanks for a very enjoyable and fund way to learn photography. All the best.”